CHAPTER XV #10
“Does it matter when the support comes?” a woman of the council leans forward, “we’re grateful for your words, Your Grace, and for your offer of help. As well as Lord Sandam and Sir Anders’ help.”
“But what is the way forward?” the second human woman asks softly, eyes turning towards Tove and Dame at my sides. “Too much turmoil continues to grip this city.”
Lady Tove sits proper in her chair, nodding to the woman with a seriousness behind her gaze.
“Alongside the men’s ideas on how to approach this, Lady Dame and I have also shared some thoughts on a few aspects. We’d like to start with the young. To integrate them in the same schools and libraries here in Dankworth…”
Tove turns to Dame, smiling at her before she looks back at the human women.
“Our own children will participate in this integration.”
The full council raises their brows, surprised and impressed.
“While our own misdeeds have consumed our generations,” Lady Tove continues, “we cannot allow them to continue with the young. All of our children will grow up in a city that moves on from its past. They will be the ones who bring in the future.”
Ryke rolls his eyes again, taking a heavy drink of ale. I eye the man quietly from across the table, understanding his skepticism.
“All buildings and shops will be integrated,” Sir Anders adds, “it is also our hope that more humans will join the army stationed here. We cannot have a guard that only comprises of Discerni.”
“Speaking of…” Ryke grumbles, turning to Sandam, “you think those men will allow any change here to take place? They patrol our border at every turn of the sun and moons.”
“They will have to,” the Lord replies coolly, “or else be escorted out of Dankworth.”
“By what means?” Ryke asks with a half laugh. “Their presence here is what keeps us all at heel.”
“I am personally moving nine hundred men with me to Fensby the day after next,” Keane’s reply brings a new silence to the room, “and by means of the army of three thousand Warrior soldiers that have already began their march east…”
“Dear Ancients,” Ryke’s eyes go wide. “This is actually happening?”
The King nods solemnly. “This is actually happening.”
We’re shown around the full of the human village after lunch and greeted with mixed views. The humans of Dankworth look upon us with curiosity, nearly all of them wondering what exactly is going on.
I’m finally able to buy a new set of marbles for Willem in our ride, missing the young boy and the cozy village of Fumagalli more than ever. He will be happy to receive them, especially as they’ll come with my apology that is now pushing against our agreed-upon two to three months deal.
Keane smiles when I pack the stones away in the bag at my hip, kissing the side of my temple. He assures me that we’ll take the ride to his Hidden City the moment were settled into Gaumond.
Sir Merrick and his wife don’t join us for dinner this evening, again using the same excuse that he was preparing the men for their departure to Fensby. I don’t think anyone much minded their absence as we continued on with our friendly dinner.
I yawn deeply when Keane and I return to our room.
It’s been a day of preparations and I find myself craving the sleep I know will come easily.
Keane still has a full night of messages to attend to, while I resolve myself to take a hot bath.
To my surprise, he joins me, bringing his oak wood and pen with him and his playful brown eyes.
The tub isn’t large enough for the two of us to fit comfortably but I don’t care.
I find myself situated between his legs with his arms around me, reading the text that comes in and what he sends out, washing the two of us together.
“I’m going to smell like vanilla and cinnamon,” he chuckles, kissing my neck as I run the soap up his thigh.
I lean back into his chest with a smirk. “All of the girls will love it, I promise.”
“And you?”
My grin is sly as I shake my head.
“Not me, Your Grace. I like the smell of Gaumond on your skin.”
“Hmm,” he smiles against me, “and what smell is that?”
“Campfire and pine,” I close my eyes to him with a sigh, “with the hint of sharp whiskey.”
“Soon, Alexis,” Keane replies quietly, dropping his oak to the side to hold me in his arms. “Very soon.”
We’re awakened in the dead of night to screaming from the city beyond.
Keane is the first to dart out of bed, sitting up swiftly as his Discerni speed takes him to the large window next to us.
I can tell by his face that something is wrong, deathly wrong, and quickly move out from under the sheets to walk to our packs resting on the table, hurriedly looking to change out of my night slip.
“I need you to stay here, Alexis,” Keane turns to me with hard eyes.
My hands fumble at the clothing, noticing the look of worry in his features as I forgo my own packs and reach into his.
Keane takes a heavy step in my direction, eyes darting to the door of our room as my fingers wrap around one of his shirts.
I toss the black satin to him as he catches it and walks right past me, my heart beating wildly.
“What’s going on?” I ask frantically.
Keane pulls his shirt over his head. “Something is happening in the city.”
He opens the door and looks down the staircase. My eyes dart nervously to the window, hearing another scream from far beyond that rattles my very soul.
“Alexis,” Keane’s voice pulls me back to him, body commanding as he walks back to the table. “Stay here. I’m going to find Canon and Holis and send Holis up.”
I nod nervously and watch him quickly pull on his boots.
“Do not leave this room,” he continues, gaze holding mine in pure seriousness, “do not open the door unless it is myself or Holis. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but-”
“-No buts, Alexis,” Keane shakes his head hard, eyes glaring at me. “Stay in the room. Keep your blades on you. Holis only. Do you understand?”
I take a deep breath and will my heart not to jump out of my chest. “Where’s Golem?”
Keane walks back to the door, head tilting towards his packs. “Right side, under my pants. Do not leave, Alexis.”
Ancients.
“Stormfall!” he yells from the staircase. “Burn this handle once Holis arrives.”
The Bird of Ash caws loud in reply just as the door closes shut with a heavy thud. I jump at the sound and hurry back to my own clothing, hands trembling as I begin to change.
What’s going on? I can still hear the screams from outside the castle, the sounds now becoming second nature as I pull on my boots.
Stormfall flies down to the table to join me, head darting to the door as a set of heavy feet bound up the staircase.
I grab my dagger and swing around, heart racing as I angle it at the door.
“It’s me!” Holis’ voice is loud, pounding a fist against the wood. “I’ve got Mana.”
I rush to the door and open it quickly, the two men moving inside with silent and troubled features.
“What’s going on?” I ask frantically, moving out of the way.
Both men are running to the table, pushing away the chairs in their Discerni speed just as Stormfall flies to the door, wings folding onto the handle.
“Holis. Mana!” I call their names. “What’s going on?”
“Look outside,” Holis huffs, pushing the heavy table towards the door.
I run to the window in the room and stop dead in my tracks, my eyes going wide.
Dankworth is on fire.
Everything from the edge of the city inwards is ablaze in flames, the red and orange roaring into the night sky.
The fire stops just at the border of the white homes of the Discerni, the marble unable to catch flame and hindering any further growth to the quickly moving fire.
The screaming that I heard earlier hasn’t stopped either, though I think my mind has now completely drowned out the sound.
I don’t want to comprehend what I know to be true, which is that there’s hundreds if not thousands of humans trying to escape the flames.
I look down to the castle fields, spotting both Keane and Sandam running quickly with Cal, Canon, and the two sets of Knowledge and Warrior soldiers at their sides.
“We need to go help them!” I yell to the brothers. “Keane is leaving for the city with Cal and the others!”
Keane’s eyes find mine from below, hand raising from his side in his run.
How he heard me through the glass is beyond me, but the tower around us begins to shake as he looks at me with glaring eyes.
The ground below the tower juts out sharply, the King summoning a stone and dirt staircase towards the window I stand in front of.
I gasp and take a quick step back, watching the earth rise high to the tower, the full structure stopping just before the glass.
“You do not leave the room!” Keane yells to me, though I can barely hear his voice.
“Then why have you built a staircase?” I yell back.
“In case we fall,” Mana replies quietly.
My eyes go wide, turning to the brothers at the entry of the room and noticing that they both carry their weapons of choice. Mana is holding his kedge, stepping away from the table to eye the door while Holis is shrugging off his quiver of arrows. They both look severe.
I walk towards the table that’s now firmly planted against the door, frowning heavily as I look at the twins.
Are they expecting someone to break in?
Mana stops me in my path, hands reaching for my shoulders as he attempts to turn me around.
“I’m just going to let Golem out,” I tell him shakily, “he’s in Keane’s packs.”
The Discerni twin eyes me for a brief moment before stepping to the side. I walk quickly for the black leather and reach for Golem’s jar, feeling him vibrate against his home.
“Hang on, Golem. I’m unscrewing you now.”
Golem’s soft footsteps reach the side of the room in an instant, making me jump again. I point him towards the window and feel a soft grip on my arm, turning to Holis in anxiety as he moves me away from the door.
“Why have you barricaded?” I ask them nervously.